Friday, November 30, 2012

Using Book Structure to Create Compelling Stories--Guest Post by Terry Ambrose

The
epiphany, the “aha” moment, the smack on the side of the head. No matter what
we call it, that moment when the last piece of the puzzle snaps into place is
an amazing moment. In this case, that moment had to do with writing a
compelling story.

Let’s face it, some writers are just masters at
creating a story that readers can’t put down. For me, that’s the ultimate
compliment and the holy grail of writing mysteries and suspense. I’ve studied
and practiced the craft of writing for many years and became a fan of Jack M.
Bickham’s scene and sequel writing theory for some time back. In my opinion,
most fiction writers would benefit just by learning Bickham’s theories about
how to structure a novel.

Scenes and
sequels

When I read Bickham’s “Elements of Fiction
Writing: Scene and Structure,” I realized that my writing had subconsciously
been moving in that direction for years. Bickham’s guidance was what I needed
at precisely the right moment. It gave me questions to ask before I started
laboring over any new scene. In short, it gave my writing structure.

•Everything
that happens in a story is based on a stimulus and for every stimulus, there
will be a character response.

•Scenes
advance the story through establishing character goals, generating conflict,
and taking characters one step forward, two steps back with major and minor
disasters.

•Sequels
provide the reader an opportunity to get closer to the characters by showing
why they took an action and what emotions they felt. The sequel also sets up
the next action in the story.

The “next”
paragraph, from structure to compelling

My second “aha” moment was pure serendipity. I’d
just attended a meeting where bestselling author Kelley Armstrong talked about
plotting. She gave a number of tips to help writers move their plots forward
more quickly. That, as the saying goes, “primed the pump.” The real smack on
the side of the head came when my wife brought home an old Greg Isles book that
she came across while working at the Friends of the Library bookstore.

“Black Cross” hooked me with the first sentence.
So far, good job Mr. Isles, you made me want to finish the paragraph. At the
end of the first paragraph, I had to read the second. Then the third. By the
end of the second page, there was no question that this was what a compelling
read was all about—the next paragraph. The epiphany—it’s all about playing
dirty.

Playing
dirty

Whether I’m writing a funny Hawaiian mystery
like PHOTO FINISH or a suspense novel like my upcoming release, my goal is to
get the reader to the next paragraph. If I write each paragraph with a
mini-hook at the end, I’ll have done my part. Perhaps someday I’ll have another
moment like “the next paragraph” moment. Will it be days? Months? Years? I have
no idea. What I do know is that instead of using a hook at the end of each
chapter, as I did before, I’m now taking that concept to the paragraph level
and treating each paragraph as though it might be a chance for the reader to
put down the book. Sorry, readers, but I’m determined to play dirty and not give
you that chance.

About the
author

Terry Ambrose started out skip tracing and
collecting money from deadbeats and quickly learned that liars come from all
walks of life. He never actually stole a car, but sometimes hired big guys with
tow trucks and a penchant for working in the dark when “negotiations” failed.

In his debut novel PHOTO FINISH, a former skip
tracer meets a beautiful con artist in Honolulu and finds trouble almost too
hot to handle. Terry’s next novel, LICENSE TO LIE, will be released in mid
December. It’s about a $5 million con gone bad and the harshest lesson of
all—never trust a soul…even your own.

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Elizabeth Spann Craig

Elizabeth's latest Penguin book "Rubbed Out," (written as Riley Adams) released July 2, 2013. She launched "Death at a Drop-In" (a Myrtle Clover mystery...self-pubbed) in August. Her next Penguin/Signet book, "Quilt Trip," (written as Elizabeth Craig) releases December 2013. Elizabeth writes the Memphis Barbeque series for Penguin/Berkley (as Riley Adams), the Southern Quilting mysteries for Penguin/Signet, and the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently. Find out more about her books on her website: http://elizabethspanncraig.com .

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Death at a Drop-In

A Myrtle Clover Mystery--August 2013

Quilt Trip--Dec. 2013--Quilting Mystery #3--Penguin/Signet

Muriel Starnes, an elderly eccentric, has organized a meeting of quilters to pick someone to administer a quilting scholarship. But once the quilters arrive at the mansion, it seems they may never leave. An ice storm sends an old tree crashing across the driveway, leaving them stranded for the night. And by the next morning, they are one fewer—for Muriel has been sent to meet her maker. With everyone in the house a suspect, it’s up to Beatrice and the Village Quilters to figure out who has a guilty conscience before someone else gets tied up in knots

Rubbed Out--Memphis BBQ #4--July 2013

Reuben Shaw rubs a lot of people the wrong way—including Lulu’s best friend, Cherry, who has the misfortune of being in the booth next to his at the festival. The pigheaded pit master thinks he’s a shoo-in to win the barbeque competition, but he spends more time stirring up trouble than seasoning his spare ribs. Hours after she gets into a quarrel with him, Cherry finds Shaw dead with a butcher knife in his chest. Now it’s her turn to get grilled—by the police. Lulu sets out to clear her friend’s name and finds Shaw had more secrets than his BBQ recipe. She’ll need to act fast, because the real killer will spare no one…including Lulu.

"Knot What it Seams"--Feb. 5, 2013

Southern Quilting Mysteries: Dwindling membership has the Village Quilters hanging by a thread, and group leader Meadow Downey is desperate to recruit some new folks. With Beatrice’s blessing, she attempts to weave frequent quilt show judge Jo Paxton into their fold. As the town’s irascible mail carrier, Jo delivers trouble wherever she goes. And with all that mail at her fingertips, she knows everyone’s business. Soon Beatrice wonders if they’ve made the right choice.

"Quilt or Innocence"--June 5 2012

Southern Quilting Mysteries: As the newest member of the Village Quilters Guild, Beatrice has a lot of gossip to catch up on—especially with the Patchwork Cottage quilt shop about to close. It seems that Judith, the landlord everyone loves to hate, wants to raise the rent, despite being a quilter herself… But when Judith is found dead, the harmless gossip becomes an intricate patchwork of mischievous motives. And it’s up to Beatrice’s expert eye to decipher the pattern and catch the killer, before her life gets sewn up for good.

Hickory Smoked Homicide

Memphis BBQ Mysteries: Since she runs the hottest BBQ joint in town, Lulu knows just about everyone in Memphis. But one person she'd rather not know is Tristan Pembroke, a snooty pageant coach with a mean streak longer than the line outside Lulu's restaurant. When she finds Tristan's dead body stuffed in a closet at a party, the police are suspicious--especially since Lulu's developed a taste for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Caught in a situation stickier than molasses, Lulu must clear her name--or risk getting fried...

Finger Lickin' Dead

Memphis BBQ Mysteries: When an anonymous food critic blasts several local restaurants—including Aunt Pat’s—Lulu Taylor and her customers are biting mad, especially when they learn that Eppie Currian is the pen name of their friend Evelyn’s cheating boyfriend. When “Eppie” gets his own fatal review, the list of suspects is longer than the list of specials at the best BBQ place in Memphis.

Delicious and Suspicious:

Memphis BBQ Mysteries: Publishers Weekly: "A sassy first in a new series from Adams." Book one of the Memphis Barbeque Series. When a food scout from a cable cooking channel is murdered, it's only natural for restaurant owner Lulu Taylor to take it personally. After all, her barbeque restaurant served the scout's last meal. But danger lurks as Lulu investigates the crime. Will she clear the restaurant's name, or is she next to be skewered?

"A Body in the Backyard"--a Myrtle Clover Mystery. Nov. 2012

It’s just an ordinary day for octogenarian sleuth Myrtle Clover—until her yardman discovers a dead body planted in her backyard. This death isn’t cut and dried—the victim was bashed in the head with one of Myrtle’s garden gnomes.Myrtle’s friend Miles recognizes the body and identifies him as Charles Clayborne… reluctantly admitting he’s a cousin. Charles wasn’t the sort of relative you bragged about—he was a garden variety sleaze, which is very likely why he ended up murdered. As Myrtle starts digging up dirt to nip the killings in the bud, someone’s focused on scaring her off the case. Myrtle vows to find the murderer…before she’s pushing up daisies, herself.

Progressive Dinner Deadly

$2.99 for Kindle and Nook. A Myrtle Clover Mystery: Octogenarian Myrtle Clover isn't thrilled when her book club morphs into a supper club. But things get a little more interesting when a body is discovered during the 3rd course. Can Myrtle's sleuthing smoke out the killer before her goose is cooked?

A Dyeing Shame

A Myrtle Clover Mystery: When Beauty Box beautician Tammy Smith is discovered with a pair of hair shears in her back, there are suspects and secrets aplenty in her small Southern town. Octogenarian Myrtle Clover, bored by bingo and bridge, is intrigued by the crime…and her neighbors’ secrets. But discovering, and blabbing, secrets got Tammy killed and Myrtle soon learns her sleuthing isn’t just dangerous…it’s deadly. Available on Nook and Kindle.

Pretty is as Pretty Dies

A Myrtle Clover Mystery: An August 1, 2009 release by Midnight Ink. The Publishers Weekly review: "The amusing first in a new cozy series from Craig...Myrtle's wacky personality is a delight." Mystery Scene magazine: "Craig’s skill at evoking a small town and its idiosyncratic inhabitants renders this mystery a pleasure to read. I’m looking forward to the further exploits of Myrtle Clover.” ForeWord Magazine: "The treat here is Myrtle’s eccentricity, brought to life with rich humor and executed for the most part with breezy skill." Mystery News: "Wonderful cozy mystery: solidly written, well-plotted and funny." Midwest Book Review: "I loved this book. The story is typical of a lot of small towns anywhere in the US, but Elizabeth Spann Craig added a new dimension with Myrtle and her elderly friends."